New Restaurants Expected to Open in Tuscaloosa in 2017

As Tuscaloosa continues to grow, more and more restaurants are deciding to move to West Alabama and it's created an underrated food scene in the Druid City.

Each of the past few years has brought new restaurants to developments like the Shoppes at Legacy Park, Midtown Village, and downtown Tuscaloosa. As 2017 begins, plans are already in place for five restaurants to open by summer with additional businesses being discussed.

We'll update this list as we get more news, but here are the restaurants already planning to open in Tuscaloosa this year.

The next restaurant to move into Midtown Village, Metro Diner will take over the space previously occupied by MovieStop. This chain began in Jacksonville, Florida, and has won multiple awards for its food. There's no opening date set but build-out has started. Check out their menus here.

2

The Cabaret

3510 Loop Road

This 'American gourmet restaurant' is opening in the former Kozy's location on Loop Road. The Cabaret will serve traditional American food like burgers and wings, but hope to eventually expand into exotic meats like ostrich, camel, and yak. As of mid-January, the local owners were going through the liquor license process and hope to open soon.

There had been speculation for a while that a Steak 'n Shake could be making its way to Tuscaloosa. Locals have hoped the popular burger chain would open here, and it finally looks like it will happen. A company food truck set up a few times near the Cobb Hollywood 16 at the end of 2016, and an employee confirmed that they'll be opening in that area sometime this year. The Tuscaloosa News has additional details.

The chefs from Epiphany Cafe will open a new restaurant next to the Children's Hands on Museum that puts a local spin on international street food classics. The menu, which is sourced locally, will feature rice bowls, sandwiches, tacos, and more. No grand opening date has been set but their Facebook page shows that the restaurant could be open very soon.

More than 1,700 people signed a petition to bring the burger chain to Tuscaloosa, and it appears to be happening in 2017. Developer Stan Pate confirmed the news and hoped to have the restaurant open this Spring. It is also expected to go at the corner of Skyland Blvd and Hwy. 69, which is where a number of new restaurants have opened in recent years.